RELEASE 



A Tragedy in One Act 



By EDWARD H. SMITH 




VAGABOND PLAYS~No. 4 



/ 



/ 



RELEASE 



A Tragedy in One Act 



BT 
EDWARD H, SMITH 



3 J J 



The Norman, Remington Company 

Baltimore 

1921 



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Copyright, 1921 
Br EDWARD H. SMITH 






TMP96-C06t>31 



JUN -9 1921 \ 



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Cf.D 57006 



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To 

EDITH DE LONG SMITH 

In Remembrance 



First Produced at 

THE VAGABOND PLAYHOUSE 
Baltimore 

November 1st, 1920 

by the 
VAGABOND PLAYERS 

CAST 

Lefty Veneziano\ Joseph TF. Swikert 

Eabbit Moretto ( p . T. Buck 

Kid Malloy / ^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^ ^ Holbein 

Bull O'Malley ) John McGrath 

Tarpey, a Keeper Frederick W. Marburger 



CHARACTERS 



Gangsters : 

LEFTY VENEZIANO 
RABBIT MORETTO 
KID MALLOY 
BULL O'MALLEY 

TARPEY, a Keeper, 



A county jail in upstate New York. Present, Three 
men are seen through the barred front of a wide 
shallow cell, ivhich extends almost across the stage. 
Similar cells suggested right and left. The cage 
has side and rear walls of masonry ivith a small 
barred window in the rear. Four bunks in pairs, 
one above the other, are fixed to the rear wall, 
Otherivise the cell contains nothing but tivo stool 
chairs and four galvanized buckets. Entrance to 
the cage is through a steel door in the lower left 
hand corner of the cell fronts 



RELEASE 

Rabbit and Kid are moving about restlessly in 
the cell. Lefty sits on a stool, sulking. 

LEFTY 

{Suspiciously) 

Whot's Bull doin' p/long wid dat mouthpiece? 

KID 

{Peering off left through the bars] 

He^s tryin* to git us out o' dis. Give um time. 



RABBIT 

It*s awrful waiting here, not knowin'- 



LEFTY 

W'y didn ya let me go talk to de lawyer? 

KID 

We wanted Bull, thas w'y. 



LEFTY 

But it's me dats up agin it- 



RABBIT 

Thought you said we was all in ut the same. 

LEFTY 

We are, but . How d' I know wot Bull's cook- 
ing up out dere? 

KID 

Bull's a right guy. 

7 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

Didn dat Willie dump us already to save hisself ? 

KID 

Willie ain't one o' de gang. Ya gotta spec a 
louse showfer ya picked up on de street to cough 
his guts. 

LEFTY 

Buiril cross us to save hisself, same as anybody. 

KID 

Yer wrong, ya fmk! 

LEFTY 

{Moves his stool and sits down dejectedly) 
Aw, dat mouthpiece can't do no good, nohow. 

KID 

Bull says he kin. 

LEFTY 

Bull's nuts. We gits a tumble an' de cops grabs 
us right off de bat. Den dat damn Willie belches 
all he knows. Den de Kid's moll turns inside out. 
How's any lawyer gonna beat dat? 

KID 

Ya tink dey got us? 

LEFTY 

Ta rights! 

RABBIT 

Good Gawd! 

KID 

(Moving uneasily) 

Dey won't send us all to de Chair? 

LEFTY 

W'y won't dey? 

8 



RELEASE 

RABBIT 

Four men f er croaking one ? 

LEFTY 

De four of us was dere. 

KID 

T'ree didn 'ave nuttin to do wid de killin, 

LEFTY 

Know de law, doncha? 

RABBIT 

Lissen, Yefty: De four of us goes out on a 
job to git a little jack — not meanin to kill no- 
body . Ya mean to say de whole gauges in fer 

it de same as de guy wot did de croakin? 

LEFTY 

Tryin to quit, Rabbit? 

RABBIT 

Naw— — , but dey only send ya to de chair fer 
firs' degree . Das premeditated. 

KID 

An' we wasn premeditatin no killin. 

LEFTY 

Wot's de use arguin? If a mob goes out graftin 
an some simp gets killed de whole push goes to de 
chair. Das de law in dis state. 

RABBIT 

It's murder to top Kid an' Bull an' me ! We didn' 
kill no one. 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

But it's all right fer me, huh? 

RABBIT 

Well ya killed th' ole man, didn' ya? 

LEFTY 

De district attorney don' know dat. 

KID 

Naw, an' he can't fin' out neither. We ain't a 
gonna tell 'im. 

LEFTY 

Ya better not ! Ya can't ! It wouldn' 

do you no good, nohow. We was all dere. De 
law says we're all guilty. You fellers as much as 
me! 

RABBIT 

'Sa lousy deal ; 'sail I gotta say. 

LEFTY 

Yaaaaaaaas; an' ya kin blame de Kid — blabbin 
his head off to his broad. 

KID 

It's my fault, huh? 

LEFTY 

Ya moll-struck boob! If ya hadn' quatched to 
dat bimbo dey never could convict us. 

KID 

{Menacing) 

Wat 'bout you so fast on yer gun? Ef ya didn't 
shoot dat old stiff we wouldn't be here ! 

10 



RELEASE 
LEFTY 

Didn' I shoot to git de coin fer you guys? Didn' 
dat old stiff put up a fight? Yer all eaten me cause 
I had de hard kick to settle dat ole bloke. Now ya 

aird like to duck out on me. But yer gonna 

stick. Buhlieve me, yer gonna ! 

(Commotion off left) 

KID 

Here's Bull! 

(Bull O'M alley appears tvalJcing before Keeper 
Tarpey, who is in uniform. Bull measures up to 
his gang name — a huge ox of a man. He has a 
strut, and holds himself in the pose of a pugilist re- 
ceiving the plaudits of the ring, ivhere he is, perhaps, 
more at home than in crime. Being an indifferent 
hand at either, he has had to work in both fields, 
tvith success sufficient to bring him to his present 
dilcmna. He is thirty. Tarpey is fifty, fat, ruddy 
and shretvd, tvith all the characteristic mendoxity 
that groivs in men set to watch other men. 

The door is sivung open and Bull enters the cage. 
Tarpey locks him in) 

tarpey 

Waall now you seen yer lawyer, I spose 

yu'll be ready to see tha district attorney He'll 

be sendin down any time now. 

BULL 

All right, Tarpey. 

tarpey 
{Lingering) 
Didjer lawyer tell yu to come clean and fess up? 

11 



RELEA^SE 

LEFTY 

Beat it, Screws. We 



TARPEY 

Wanna talk, huh? Not gonna come clean, huh? 
Waall, that ain't gonna save yu from thu 



Chair, m'boys. Buhlieve me, this feller upstairs 
don't stand fer no foolin. He's a wise bird. 

BULL 

So wise he don't know w'ich one he 



TARPEY 

(Shreivdly) 

I guess that's worryin you more'n him, m'boy. — 
By the way, djever see that Chair down at Sing 

Sing? Ya know I was down there onct, ta 

see 'em top a feller that killed his wife. 

LEFTY 

Can it, Screws! 

(Bull, Rabbit and the Kid move about impa- 
tiently. Lefty is plainly responding to the keeper's 
inquisition) 

TARPEY 

(With pantomime) 

They got the Chair in a white room, nice and clean, 
like a room in a 'ospital. The chair's at this end, 
screwed to the floor, an' there's a little door over 
here where they bring you in. See, ya come in like 
this and here's the Chair. Then they grab you an' 
slam ya into it, like that! In a second they got 
belts around ya here (Indicates his ivaist) and 

aroun' yer arms and legs, so ya can't move . 

An' then the cap comes down 

12 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

For Christ's sake, stop! 

TARPEY 

{Blandly) 

Wot's the matter with the boy? 

LEFTY 

I can't stand it, Screws! 

TARPEY 

{Relentlessly) 

An' then the cap comes clown like 

this and fits yer dome. Then they 

brings a black mask over yer face. Then there's 
a guy over here. He's got this hand on the switch. 

The bell rings ting-a-ling-ling he 

throv/s her in a little, bz-z-z-z-z-z-z. Just 

(Lefty lets out a screech and begins kicking and 
shouting) 

KID 

Shut up, Screws! Aincha got no heart? 

TARPEY 

{Innocently) 

A bunch of brave killers, so delicate like, huh? 
Waall, anyhow, that's all there is to it, 'cept 



the autopsy, w'ere they rips yu open to- 



KID 

Shut yer face, ya damn beast! 
{The keepe)' dratvs back, startled at the man's 
vehemence) 

13 



RELEASE 

BULL 
That third degree stuff don't go, Tarpey. Run 
along 

TARPEY 

(Shrugging) 

Think it over while yu kin, m'boy. Any time yu 
got somethin' ta tell me jes rattle on the bars. 

{He goes off sloivly, Bull luatching him till he's 
Old of sight) 

BULL 

(To Lefty) 

That ole crook's jes try in ta make ya come 
through. Aincha wise ? 

{The men croivd about Bull expectantly) 

RABBIT 

Well? 

KID 

What'd the mouthpiece say? 

BULL 

They found Lefty's gat where he ditched it. 

LEFTY 

{Blanching) 

Dey found de gun? 

BULL 

An' the hockshop where ya bought it. 

RABBIT 

Good night fer us! 
{Silence) 

KID 

So dat's all de hope dat lawyer gives us? 

14 



RELEASE 

BULL 

Pretty near. The four of us is got just one chance. 

LEFTY 

(Tortured) 
Yes? Yes? 

BULL 

We gotta plead guilty. 

RABBIT 

Plead guilty! ! 

KID 

(Aghast) 

Wot'll that git us? 

BULL 

We pleads it second degree. 

LEFTY 

(Seeing himself saved from death) 
An' we don' go to dat Chair! 

KID 

(Lighting) 

Will they stand fer it? 

BULL 

The mouthpiece is upstairs now findin out. 

KID 

Bull, if ut goes through ya saved all our lives! 

RABBIT 

Aw, dey got us. Ef you tink dat distric' 

'torney's gonna let us git away wid pleas when 

15 



RELEASE 

he kin send four guys to the chair an' make a name 
for hisself, I DON'T. 

BULL 

We hadda try it, Rabbit. It's the only chanct 
the four of us is got. 

RABBIT 

How'll we know de answer? 

BULL 

Our lawyer'll shoot us a scratch. It oughta bh 
here now. 

RABBIT 

An ef dat note says "nuttin doin" ? 

LEFTY 

He's gotta let us plead guilty. 

RABBIT 

Like hell he's gotta. 

KID 

(Tentatively) 

Mebbe he will. He's yooman, ain't he? 

BULL 
There's a chance. Tryin four men fer murder 
costs money. I figgered maybe this district at- 
torney '11 dope it out that savin the coin'U win 'im 
more votes in this hick county than sendin men ta 
die. 

LEFTY 

An' no guy wants to have four dead men on his 
mind. He can't sleep. Ain't I right? 

16 



RELEASE 

BULL 

We gotta look-in, I says. But it ain't because 
he'll lose any sleep over us or cause he's yooman. 
That feller may go light on us, but it won't be 
'cause he's givin us justice. It'll be 'cause it's gittin 
somethin' fer him. Thas all. 

RABBIT 

Yas an' ef he figgers agin us; wot 

den? 

BULL 

Then we gotta put our nuts together an' find the 
way out. We gotta light ta live. Four men can't go 
ta that Chair. You guys kin lay down an' take tha 
dose ef ya v/anna, but not me. Bull O'Malley wants 
ta live an' there's somethin in 'im's gonna fight. Ef 
he's gotta die fer wot one a you guys done he'll die 
game. But before he does that he's gonna fight 
game! Who's wid him? 

KID 

Who said Bull's wrong? 

RABBIT 

I'm widja. 

LEFTY 

Me, too. 

BULL 

Then we sticks together fer the good of the 
bunch — an' no hollerin ef the game's lost. 
(Tarpey hustles in from the right) 



RABBIT 



(At the bars) 
Shhhhh ! 



17 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

Got a scratch fer us? 

(The men press fomvard. Tarpey stops before 
the cage, deliberately opens note and reads) 

BULL 

Here! That's mine! 

TARPEY 

When ya get it, it is. 

RABBIT 

Dat's private, ya damn flatf oot ! 

TARPEY 

(Chuckling) 

So, yu were gonna take pleas so nice, wuz yu? 

(The men press themselves painfully against the 
bars) 
Trying ta duck thu chair so neat, eh? 

(He passes the note to Lefty) 
Naw ya don't, m' boys ; naw ya don't ! 

lefty 
(Staring at note) 
We gotta stand trial! 

(The Keeper laughs shortly and strolls off as he 
came) 

RABBIT 

(After a pause) 

We're as good as four dead men ! 

bull 
(Snatches the note from Lefty and tears it up) 
Not yet. Now! We gotta work fast! ! 

18 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

Wotta ya mean? 

BULL 

There's a way three of us can be saved. 

LEFTY 

(With rising suspicion) 
Wot way's dat? 

BULL 

One man's gotta go to the front an' die for the 
rest. 

{The men stare at each other and at Bull) 

KID 

Ya mean ~? 

BULL 

I mean if one of us goes up there to the district 
attorney and says "I croaked that ole man. I done 

it alone." Well, then the other three 'ud 

git out of it. 

KID 

An' the guy wot goes the route ? 

BULL 

He does his Becker. 

KID 

(Falls back, thinking) 

I see the Chair. 

(The men draiv atvay) 

BULL 

(Laughing shortly) 
Well, any volunteers? 

10 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

{With mounting nervousness) 
Did that lawyer say it'd work? 

BULL 

He did. 

LEFTY 

They'd never believe it. 

BULL 

They gotta, an' they will. Ef I go up an' say we 
all agreed not to shoot an' then I shot anyhow . . . 
that's all there's to ut. It may not gitcha 'way 
clean, but yu won't go to tha chair. No jury '11 stand 
fer it. It's a plain lay, I tell ya. It's one dead man 

er four. I say, better one. Now, who's it 

gonna be? 

{Pause) 

LEFTY 

I — I — I gotcha, Bull. 

BULL 

You have, huh? 

LEFTY 

I said yu'd cook up somethin out dere. What you 
mean to say is: Lefty, you go die fer us 

BULL 

I didn't say it, did I? 

LEFTY 

Naw, but dat's wotcha mean. Well, I won't 

do it. Ef you wanna go down ta Sing Sing and 
take dat burn, yo\x fer it, but not me. My life's 
as good as yours an' I mean to fight fer it, same as 
you. I wanna chance fer my white alley ! 

20 



RELEASE 

BULL 

{Coldly) 

Yer gonna git ut. 

LEFTY 

You said it, I am! 

BULL 

One of us is gotta die, that's all ; an three is gotta 
live. 

LEFTY 

A fair chance, I want ; fair as any of ya, 

BULL 

That's wot yu'll git, no mor', no less. Listen! 
That district attorney don't know who croaked that 
ole guy, an' he can't fin' out, ef we stick together. 
Now the Kid didn't, an' neither did Rabbit. Neither 
did I. But I'm wiilin' ta say I did — ef I lose. 

LEFTY 

{Nervously) 
Wot're ya gettin at? 

BULL 

We gotta throw fer it. 

LEFTY 

{Falls back) 

Trow fer a man's life? 

BULL 

Fer three men's lives and one man's death. 

LEFTY 

Jesu Christi! 

21 



RELEASE 

BULL 

Quick, or it's too late. 

KID 

rm game. 

RABBIT 

{Examining the cell) 

Ain't there no way out, Bull? Can't we lamm 
dis place? 

BULL 

We got no tools an' we can't make a break. An' 
ef we could it would do us no good. We got no darb 
an' no friends outside; no chance fer a getaway. 
We figgered all that. It don't go. 

RABBIT 

Then we gotta do it. I'm game wid de rest. 

BULL 

Lefty; want any better'n that? 

LEFTY 

Dis is on de level? 

BULL 

Whaddaya mean? Djever see me w'en I was 
crooked ? 

LEFTY 

Shoot. 

(Bull rattles the door) 

LEFTY 

Whaddaya up to? 

22 



RELEASE 

BULL 

We gotta have somcthin to throv/ wid. 

KID 

'Srightr There ain't a jit in de crowd. 

LEFTY 

Ya ain't gonna crack to dat Screws? 
(Tarpey avveavs, rattling his keys) 

TARPEY 

What's up ? 

BULL 

Listen, Tarpey; Lend us a half buck like a good 
feller, will ya? 

TARPEY 
Lend j a wot? 

BULL 

Jest fer a little w'ile. We'll give it right back. 

TARPEY 

(Crossly) 

Whadda ya want with ut? 

BULL 

Jes' play a little game to amuse ourselves while 
we're waitin, thas all. 

TARPEY 

(Getting half dollar from his pocket) 
Amuse yourselves, huh? Waaall (Gives it.) No 
funny work, now, or 

23 



RELEASE 

BULL 

Thanks. Yu kin come fer it purty soon. 

TARPEY 

Bulieve me, I will. 

(Goes off, shaking Ms head) 

BULL 

Now then, we're ready. 

LEFTY 

How ya gonna flip? 

BULL 

We kin stay in the pairs we was when they brought 
us here, Rabbit and Kid on one side and you an' 
me on the other. 'Tsabout right anyhow — one Wop 
an one Mick on a side. Suit ya? 

LEFTY 

Go ahead. 

BULL 

0. K. then. Now we flops first ta see what two 
is out. 

RABBIT 

Wadda ya mean, out? 

BULL 

Ef you two goes out, yer lucky. Then me'n 
Lefty's gotta flip ta see w'ich one goes to tha chair. 

KID 

Gee! 

BULL 

Ef it turns agin ya, then you'n the Kid has the 
privluge o' choosin tha dead man. 

24 







RELEASE 








Ugh! 




KID 






• 


Got it straight? 


BULL 








We gotcha. 
(Lefty does 
about the cell) 


not 


RABBIT 

ansiver, hut 


pi 


'oivls 


nervously 


Who's gonna 


floi: 


BULL 

>? 









RABBIT 

Tha Kid shoots fer us. He's lousy wid luck. 

BULL 

{Giving Kid the coin) 

Then loe calls. 

{To Lefty) 

Suit you, ole feller? 

LEFTY 

{Sullenly) 
Wotsa difference? 

BULL 

Wait a minnit! Don' it suitcha, Lefty? 

LEFTY 

'Sail right. 

BULL 
Ya got nawthin better, have ya? 

LEFTY 

I'm sa'asfied, 'slong as uts done square. 

25 




RELEASE 

BULL 

Let 'er go, Kid. 

{The Kid shakes the coin betiveen his cupped 
palms) 

KID 

All set, now! Here she goes. Here she 

LEFTY 

Jiggeroo ! 

KID 

Wot's wrong? 

LEFTY 

(Digging into his shirt) 
Hold on! 

(He brings out a small metal crucifix ivorn on a 
tape about the neck) 

Ya gotta swear on dis here cross ! 

BULL 
Is that better'n the law o' the gang? 

LEFTY 

You gotta take oat' you're gonna go de route 
ef you lose. You gotta ask God ta witness dat de 
one dat loses goes to da Chair fer de rest. 

(He crosses himself. The men stir uneasily. 
Lefty searches their faces) 

Come on! Yer all Cath'lics. 

BULL 

I'm nawthin. 

LEFTY 

Swear on dis ting. 

26 



RELEASE 

BULL 

{Smiling) 

Ef that sa'asfies ya, shoot. 

LEFTY 

(Hands crucifix to Rabbit) 
Start it. 

RABBIT 

Holy God, I swear ta do my bit ef I lose. 
(He kisses it, crosses himself and gives it to the 
Kid) 

KID 

I swear. 

(Kisses the emhle^n, passes it to Lefty. Then 
stands crossing himself, his eyes doivn) 

LEFTY 

(Raising the crucifix) 

Holy God, hear me! 

(Falls on his knees and mumbles passionately) 

Jesus, Savior, hear me! Mary, Mother of God, 
grant my prayer! Holy Mary, intercede for me! 
Holy^ Queen, Mother of Mercy, spare me, save my 
life, intercede for me, save me ! Spare me ! I don' 
wanna die! Save me! 

(He sobs and is silent. After a pause he rises, 
kisses the cross and holds it out to Bull) 

RABBIT 

I didn't hear ya swear nawthin. 

LEFTY 
(Indignantly but avoiding Rabbit's eves) 
I did 

RABBIT 

Not as I heard. 

27 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

I swore, I tell ya. 

KID 

We didn' hear ya. Do it again ! 

LEFTY 

{Looks about, hunted. Dangles the cross) 
W'y do I have to swear twice? 

BULL 

Come on, Guinney! It's your proposition. Let's 
hear ya. 

LEFTY 

{After hesitation raises the cross) 
I swear. 

{He reaches it to Bull ivho takes it with no shoiv 
of reverence) 

BULL 

{Clearly) 

My word's better'n this business. 

LEFTY 

Swear, like we did ! 

BULL 

Fm gonna, don' worry, but it don't mean nawthin 
to me. I never seen yer God an' I don't make 'im. 
He never done nothin fer me, an' I don't believe in 
'im. 

LEFTY 

Damn infidel. 

BULL 

That religion stuff was invented for people that's 
scared to die. I ain't no coward an' I don't need 
no God. 

28 



RELEASE 

RABBIT 

You're temptin God's vengeance, Bull. 

> 

BULL 

But here's wot I gotta say . I swear ef I 

lose I'll go to the Chair fer a murder I didn't do. 
I'll go widout a holler an' widout bein afeared, I'll 
go fer me pals cause I give me word. 

(Lifts crucifix above his head) 

I swear it by a God I don't have no trust in, cause 
I think he's wrong 

(The othei^s gasp) 

An' I swear it by Bull O'Malley, cause I know he's 
7'ight. 

(Tosses the crucifix to one of the bunks) 

LEFTY 

God'll show you 

BULL 

Flip the coin! 

(Kid takes his position in the center, shakes the 
half dollar betiveen his cupped palms, breathes on it, 
rubs it against his trousers. His hands shake and 
he drops it. It rolls aivay under a chair and he 
scrambles after it) 

RABBIT 

(Ne7^vously) 

Jesus, Kid! Cancha hold on to it? 

LEFTY 

(Agitated) 

Freeze to it, ya fool! 

(Bull smiles, takes out a cigarette, lights it and 

29 



RELEASE 

waits. The KiD recovers the coin, breathes on it as 
on a pair of dice, rubs it against his clothing, then 
against his forehead. He kisses it and speaks to it) 

KID 

Come on Betsy! Don't fool me now! Don't fool 
me this time! Ya know I always loved ja! Don't 
trow me down ! Treat me right, Babay ! Treat 
me right fer Gawd's sake! ! 



You call, Lefty. 



Heads! 



BULL 



LEFTY 



KID 



(Agonized) 

Oh, treat me right! ! 

(He flips the coin above his head. It glitters a 
moment, falls ivith a clijik, runs in a circle, stops 
and spins. The four men bend toward it with bulg- 
ing eyes) 

Turn tails ! Tails ! ! Tails ! ! 1 

LEFTY 

Heads, damn ya ! Heads ! ! 



Gawd ! 

It's stoppin! 

It's turnin! 



RABBIT 



KID 



RABBIT 



30 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

{Averting a distorted face) 

It's down! Jesus Mary! It's down! ! 

Wot is it? 

BULL 

{Coldly) 

Tails. 

(Lefty groans. Rabbit and Kid take in their 
breath with loud sounds of relief. They shake each 
other's hands. All mop their faces. Lefty shifts 
from foot to foot in torment) 

BULL 

Take a good look at it, ever'body. 
{The others do not move. Lefty goes and bends 
down) 

LEFTY 

{Drawing away. Hoarsely) 
It's tails. 

BULL 
{Briskly) 

Now it's between you and me, Lefty. 
{Picks up the coin) 
Ready? 

LEFTY 

W-w-wait a minit, c-cancha? 

RABBIT 

Sure, Bull. A man needs a chance ta get hi.'j 
breath after dat. 

KID 

I trowed fer some stakes in my time, but 

gee! 

{Striking his heart) 

31 



RELEASE 

I tinked de old pump was gonna blow up on me 
dat time. 

LEFTY 

(Morosely) 
Dry up! 

KID 

I ain't botherin ya, am I? 

LEFTY 

Ya won, dincha? Ya ain't gotta crow 'bout it. 

BULL 

Let's stop the guff and get it over. 

{He shakes the coin betiveen his palms) 

Wot's yer call? 

(Lefty comes toward him with tense movements. 
The other two draiv hack respectfully in the presence 
of the issue of death) 

lefty 
{Prayerfully) 
I ask Your protection 

bull 
{Shaking the coin) 

S'pose I asked it, too? He'd 'ave a tough time 
pleasin us both, huh? 

lefty 
You're as good as a dead man! 

BULL 

Yes, I s'pose so. Ef I lose, it's God's wilk Ef 
ya lose it's tough luck Well, wot's yer call? 

32 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

(Tremblhig) 

Trow. 

(Bull flips the coin tuith scant ceremony. As he 
does so Lefty makes a choking, evasive sound, that 
may he either ''HEADS'' or ''TAJLSr The instant 
the coin falls Bull puts his foot on it) 

BULL 

Wot's yer call? 

LEFTY 

I called, didn't I? Wadda ya mean by — 

BULL 

(With menace) 

Call so we kin getcha. 

LEFTY 

Didn' I call? I— I— 
(To the other tivo) 
Didn' I call? 

RABBIT 

Ya called, but no one knov/s wotcha said. 

KID 

Be on de level. Wot's yer call? 

LEFTY 

I said heads. 

BULL 

Heads. Thats better. 

(He lifts his foot and steps aivay) 

Wot is it? 

(Lefty is draivn slowly toward the coin. He takes 

33 



RELEASE 

a step, leans doton, averts Ms face, and sloivly turns 
his neck. A gasp escapes the Kid. Lefty shudders 
and brings his eyes doivn to the coin. He stares, 
shrinks, is shaken ivith deep trembling. He draws 
aivay as slowly as he approached, takes a few steps 
backiuards and sinks upon the vacant stool) 

RABBIT 

(After a dead silence) 
It's tails! 

KID 

{In a queer voice) 
Bull wins ! 



RABBIT 



{Hysterically) 
Gawd! 



BULL 

Now! Was it God or luck? 

(Kid and Rabbit hastily cross themselves. Lefty 
sits huddled on his stool, tries to open his mouth 
but sinks back into something bordering on col- 
lapse. The others begin to yawn and move about. 
Bull finds an uncomfortable seat on the edge of one 
of the lotver bunks and smokes. Kid drags the sec- 
ond stool forivard and tilts back against the wall 
opposite Lefty. Rabbit leans against the bars) 

rabbit 
Tarpey'll be along fer his four bits now. 

KID 

'N dat distric 'torney 

34 



RELEASE 

BULL 

(Softly, after a pause) 
Ya figgered out wot yer gonna say, Lefty ?- 
He'll be sendin down fer ya 

LEFTY 

{Morosely) 

Ya ain't gotta tell me wot ta do ! 

BULL 

{Withdrawing) 

All right, ole feller. 

{The men smoke a7id yawn) 



BULL 

{With rough tenderness) 
Lissen, Lefty — ! 

LEFTY 

{Grunts) 
Yuh. 

BULL 

Lissen, ole feller ; ya better lay down over here an' 
try ta poun' yer ear a w'ile. Ya'll need all the 
strength ya got w'en that guy sends down fer ya. 

KID 

{Patting Lefty) 

Go awn, ole dawg ; take a flop fer yaself . 

LEFTY 

{Rising siiddenhj) 
Lissen ta me ! 

BULL 

Yeah? 

35 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

{Subsiding) 

Aw, let lit go. 

(He staggers hack and throivs liimself into one 
of the lower hunks. Bull takes the vacated stool 
and draivs it forivard. The men are silent a feto 
moments, glancing toward the hunk) 

KID 

He'll be some sore distric' 'torney, wot? 

RABBIT 

Ya said it. 

KID 

Funny game, huh? 

RABBIT 

V/ot? 

KID 

Makin yer livin sendin guys up to git baked. 

RABBIT 

Gawd ! 

KID 

'N hopin ya'll git ta sen' up some big cheese, 
someday — some guy like Becker. Funny, ain't it? 
We croaks a guy an' gits baked fer it, 'n one o' dem 
guys croaks a dozen 'n dey makes 'im gov'nor. 

RABBIT 

'Sail in da way ya does it. Kid Lemme a 

butt. Bull. 

(Bull silently passes a cigarette. Rabbit smokes) 



o 



6 



RELEASE 

KID 

(Glancing toivard Lefty's bunk) 
He's all in. 

RABBIT 

Poor feller. 

BULL 

'S'e sleepin? 

RABBIT 

(Steps over to the bunk, peers in, listens) 
Looks like he's dead ta de world. 

BULL 

Let 'im snooze. 

KID 

(Subdued) 

He's actin kinda phoney, ef ya ask me. 

BULL 

Ya would too, ef ya hadda do his job. 

RABBIT 

Ya dink he'll do it? 

BULL 

Sure he will. 

KID 

(His back against the bars) 
Wot's gonna happen fus now? 

BULL 

They'll let us off wid a holdup charge, mebbe. 



KID 

Five yenrs mebbe ten- 

37 



RELEASE 

RABBIT 

Dat distric 'torney'll never let us go dat light. 

BULL 

He'll make us stand fer second degree. 

KID 

Twenty years to life ! 



RABBIT 

Aw Gawd! 

KID 

Ya kickin? Ain't it better'n da Chair? 

RABBIT 

Maybe . But tinka spendin yer life up dere. 

KID 

Twenty years. 

RABBIT 

We'll be ole men den. 

KID 

Whadda ya mean, old? 

RABBIT 

Ya'il be forty-tree an' me fortj^-five. B'liev 

me das old fer guys that's been twenty years in da 
bighouse. 

BULL 

An' Bull'll be fiftv. 

{Lefty leans his head out of his bunk and listens. 
They do not observe him) 

38 



RELEASE 

KID 

(Smoking) 

Well, ef I gotta I gotta. But I know wot I'm a 
gonna do w'en I gets out, 

RABBIT 

Wot? 

KID 

I gives all dis graft da go-by. De ole Kid's gonna 
beat it to da bushes when he's out. 

RABBIT 

Same here! 

KID 

An' he's gonna start all over — lay ciT de booze, 
cut da fly molls an' go ta vrork. 

RABBIT 

Ya said a mouthful! 

KID 

An' ef I gets a start I'm gonna live en da level 
wid some square broad. 

RABBIT 

Dat's sometin to live fer ! ! 

BULL 

(Throics cigarette away) 

Yeaa, that's fme ef am'thin better'n a sow er 
j a bitch'll have ya then. 

RABBIT 

Dey vron't know v:ot we was. 

39 



RELEASE 

BULL 

But they'll know wot wt are — old an' sick an' 
broken down. 

KID 

Mebbe not. Ya gotta live perty clean up dere. 

BULL 

Too damn clean. 

(He rises. Lefty's head disappeai^s. BuLL leans 
against the bars) 

RABBIT 

Tinka layin dere all dat time widout no fun; 
widout one good laugh, ner a good smoke 

KID 

Ner a meal fit f er a dawg ! Not one good souse ta 
let off da steam! 

(Lefty leans out and hears every word) 

RABBIT 

'N no burlyscue fer us nov/ — 

KID 

'Member how we used ter sit up front an' kid 
dem chorus molls? No more leg shows 

BULL 

Not one woman in twenty years! 

RABBIT 

'Sawrf ul ! 

BULL 

It's slow dyin of ev'rythin that's live in ya. 

40 



RELEASE 

KID 

But it's better'n da Chair! ^'^n dey send ya ta 
git baked it's no fun, no drinks, no women never 
again no nuttin ! Dat's worse ! ! 

(Lefty throios himself out of his bunk and runs 
forioard, screaming) 

LEFTY 

I IV 07V t do it ! ! ! 

RABBIT 

Ya v/on't ? 

LEFTY 

I'm not go'n up dere an' 



KID 

Ya swore, didn' ya? 

LEFTY 

I'm not gonna 

BULL 

(Sloioly) 

Ya lost, di'n't ya, Lefty? 

LEFTY 

I los' a flii3 of da coin, das alL 

BULL 

Ya gonna welch? 

LEFTY 

{Searching about with his eyes) 
It wuzzn't on da level. 

KID 

It was square. 

41 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

Wot right'd he have to put his foot on ut ? Mebbe 
'twoulda come ud heads. 

RABBIT 

Ya hadn' called, ya fink ! 

LEFTY 

We shoulda trowed agin. It was foul, I tell ya. 
I bin tinkin ut over an* I won't stand fer't. 

RABBIT 

(In digust) 

Ya quittin bastard! 

BULL 

(Interfering) 

Nix, Rabbit Ya say yer not sa'asfied, Lefty? 

LEFTY 

(Shrinks from BidVs eyes) 
'Swot I said. 

BULL 

Ya think we shoulda flopped over? 

LEFTY 

'Swot I said. 

BULL 

Well, I don' want no guy to get croaked fer me 

unless he says it's on the square. I'll flip ya 

agin! 

(Even Lefty's breath is taken) 

RABBIT 

Doncha do ut. Bull! 

42 



RELEASE 

KID 

He ain't worth it. 

BULL 

(Picking up the coin from the floor) 
Come on, Lefty. Your t'row this time. 

LEFTY 

{Eagerly reaching for it) 
Give it here. 

RABBIT 

{Holding Bull's arm) 

Yer crazy, Bull! Yer takln a double chanc't on 
yer life. 

BULL 

{Shaking him off) 
Somebody's gotta ! We can't all take the Chair. 

KID 

He won't stick ef he loses. 

BULL 

He'll stick. I give ya me word. 

LEFTY 

{Frightened) 
Wadda ya mean? 

BULL 

I mean whoever loses this time dies fer his pals, 
an' no gettin out of ut. 

(Lefty looks about him as if for escape. Bull 
fastens him luith his eye) 

BULL 

Throw, Wop! 

{He holds out the coin) 

43 



> > 3 

•> J 

1 J 5 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

{Taking it after hesitation) 
Wot's yer call? 

BULL 

Wen ya throw, I call. 

(Lefty shakes the coin sloivly between his hands. 
He stops, shifts his ground, stands first in one place, 
then in another. His brain is ivorking rapidly and 
darkly) 

BULL 



Hurry ! 



LEFTY 



(Turning) 

V/-Wait a minnit, w-woncher? 

KID 

Wot's wrong now? 

BULL 

Throw! We got no time to waste. 

(Lefty reluctantly chooses a position near the 
bars, ivith his face half averted from the audience 
and half turned toiuard the bunks on the left. He 
juggles the coin for a moment and then throtvs it 
aivkwardly) 

BULL 

{As the coin is throivn) 
I call tails. 

KID 

Tails is de call. 

{Whether through design or nervousness Lefty 
has throion the coin so that it rolls under the bunks 
to the rear left. The 7yioment it falls he dives after 
it) 



> • • 



RELEASE 

LEFTY 

Down! 

BULL 

(Steps before him and holds him back with his 
legs) 

Let 'er settle first. 

(After a moment he withdraivs and Lefty craivls 
toward the coin on hand and knees) 

LEFTY 

(Pretending) 

Were is it? W'ere'd it go? 

RABBIT 

Keep yer eye on 'im, Bull. 

(Lefty shifts about on his knees and maneuvers 
nearer the coin. He bends fortvard, sees what has 
been turned up and stiffens. For a moment he seems 
about to collapse. Then he marshals all his wits, 
glances covertly over either shoulder and shifts 
again. His left hand steals out toiuard the coin. 
Rabbit and Kid make an instinctive movement, but 
hold back) 

KID 

(Warning) 

Look out! 

(Lefty darts his hand for the coin, but too late. 
Bull has kicked him away from the fateful cast. 
Lefty lies for a few moments snarling. Then he 
C7xiwls aivay and drags himself up on his stool and 
sits, huddled and miserable) 

KID 

It^s tails ! 

45 



RELEASE 

RABBIT 

Ya satisfied, Lefty? 
(No anstuer) 

KID 

Well, ya oughta be. Ya had two chances fer your 
life. 

RABBIT 

Now ya gotta go de route. 

KID 

So's dere won't be no more foolin, I'm gonna call 
dat Screws, an' ya kin make yer spiel. 

(He goes to the door and puts his hands on the 
bars) 

Ya ready? 

LEFTY 
(Starts up. Hoarsely) 
Wait! 

KID 

(Taking hold of the door) 
Wot's wrong now? 

LEFTY 

I v/on't! 

(The three men turn on him ivith one movement 
He recoils against the right ivall of the cell and 
stands half crouching, hut defiant) 

RABBIT 

Ya won't? 

LEFTY 

No! I wanna live! ! 

43 



RELEASE 

BULL 

{Approaching tvith cold menace) 

So do we! Ya swore didn' ya? Ya had two 

chances, didn* ya? Ya heard me say ya'd go the 

route, ef ya lost, didncha? Ya lost didncha? 

Well, yer gonna go, buhlieve me, yer gonna go ! 

(He opens his hands and takes a step toivard 
Lefty) 

LEFTY 

(Shrinlmig in terror) 

Wait, Bull ! For Christ's sake ! 

BULL 

Wot is ut? 

LEFTY 

{Feverishly) 

Yer jus' robbin me of 

BULL 

Ya made a deal wid us, dincha? 

LEFTY 

Lissen! Dincha say we'd stan' tagether? Ya did 
say that. Ef we do we gotta chance. De guv'ner 
won' send four of us to da Chair. He won't. But 
he'll send me ef I go alone. Les stan' tagether ! Le's 
fight ut out tagether, all four of us. 

(Bull draivs hack in disgust) 

Das the way ta do it! Le's stan' tagether! 

BULL 

Cut that stuff. Wop! 

LEFTY 

I don't wanna take dat Chair! 

47 



RELEASE 

BULL 

Ya gotta go. 

LEFTY 

I wanna chance ta git free I got sometin to 

live fer ! 

BULL 

Ya gotta go, I said. 

LEFTY 

I heard wot ya said 'bout wimmin. I want as much 
as you. I got da same right to me chance. 

BULL 

Ya had yer chance an' ya lost. Now yer gonna go. 

LEFTY 

{Defiantly) 

Den free guys goes wid me. 

BULL 

Ya go alone! 

LEFTY 

Ef ya sends one man over da route, I sends free. 
I swear it! 

BULL 

That'll do ya no good. Ya kin go by the law 
of tha state, like a man — or like a rat, by the law 
of the gang! 

{He draivs back a little and pulls up his sleeves) 

Which'll ya have ? 

LEFTY 

{In horror) 
Ya won't ! ? 

48 



RELEASE 

BULL 

I will, or me mother's a slut! 

LEFTY 

Ya can't! 

BULL 

{Advancing) 

Ef ya says yes, Kid'll call the Screws. Ef ya says 

no I'll do me part. Now then I give 

ya three counts. One ! 

(Lefty shrinks against the wall, coiuering and 
trembling) 

Two! 

LEFTY 

(In choked undertone) 
Kid! Rabbit! Help! 

RABBIT 

Help yaself. Ya know th' answer. 
(Kid tiums his back) 

BULL 

THREE ! 

(Bull moves on Lefty) 

LEFTY 

{Turns suddenly and holds up the crucifix) 

Ya'll roast in Hell ef ya do ! 

(Bull is arrested for a breath. Then he makes 
a lunge, tears the crucifix from Lefty's hand and 
throws it down. Lefty springs at him ivith all fury. 
There is a brief, frightfid struggle. Bull tears 
the smaller man's grasp aivay, pins him against the 

49 



RELEASE 

wall and closes one of his hands about the Italian's 
throat. Lefty struggles and is still. Bull slowly 
releases his hold and the limp form sinks to the 
floor. Bull draws hack panting) 

RABBIT 

(Kneeling over Lefty) 
He's croaked! 

KID 

{Feeling the body) 
Ya killed him, Bull! 

BULL 

I said I would. 

rabbit 
(Straightening up in horror) 
God, Bull, dat don't do us no good! 

KID 

We're gone sure, now ! 

BULL 

Noiv we got somethin to die fer. 
(He sits down and lights a cigarette) 



Curtain 



50 



SS/ °^ CONGRESS 




016 103 706 



